NATO's alleged "responsibility to protect" was subterfuge. Months of
terror bombings left Libya a charnel house.
Africa's most developed country was ravaged. Tens of thousands were
killed, multiples more injured, and millions left on their own sink
or swim.
When is war not war? It's when mass killing and destruction are
called the right thing. It's also when terrorizing and traumatizing
an entire population goes unaddressed.
Add horrific torture to other crimes and abuses, according to
Amnesty International (AI), Doctors Without Borders, and Human
Rights Watch (HRW).
In its World Report 2012: Libya, HRW said:
Post-Gaddafi prison conditions are "sub-standard, with overcrowding,
inadequate food and water, and consistent reports about abuse,
including beatings (and) use of electric shock."
Investigator Sidney Kwiram said HRW documented "ongoing torture"
used "to force confessions or for punishment."
HRW left unaddressed that most held are pro-Gaddafi political
prisoners. Doing so is lawless repression. It's also more proof of
NATO and its puppet NTC regime's contempt for human rights.
On January 26, AI headlined, "Libya: Deaths of detainees amid
widespread torture," saying:
Libyan detainees are tortured and abused. As a result, some died.
Victims are pro-Gaddafi loyalists. AI met detainees "in and around
Tripoli, Misrata and Gheryan."
Torture marks were visible, including "open wounds on the head,
limbs, back and other parts of the body."
It's inflicted "by officially recognized military and security
entities as well as a multitude of armed militias operating outside
any legal framework."
AI knows international law prohibits torture and abuse committed by
any authority at all times, under all conditions with no allowed
exceptions. Nonetheless, it didn't explain.
AI's Donatell Rovera called it "horrifying to find that there has
been no progress to stop the use of torture. We are not aware of any
proper investigations into (these cases), and neither the survivors
or relatives of those who have died in detention have had any
recourse to justice or redress for what they have suffered."
"While many detainees have described their experiences of torture to
us, some have proved too scared to speak - fearing harsher torture"
by doing so. Instead, they just showed their wounds.
They came from being "suspended in contorted positions, beaten for
hours with whips, cables, plastic hoses, metal chains and bars and
wooden sticks, and given electric shocks with live wires and
Taser-like electro-shock weapons."
Injuries AI saw confirmed detainee testimonies. So did medical
reports. Suspected pro-Gaddafi loyalists and Black African foreign
workers are affected. NTC authorities and armed militias are
responsible.
Victims confess to stop pain. They have no legal representation. One
Misrata detainee told AI:
"This morning they took me for interrogation upstairs. Five men in
plain clothes took turns beating and whipping me....They suspended
me from the top of the door by my wrists for about an hour and kept
beating me. They also kicked me."
Another said he was beaten on wounds sustained weeks earlier and
added:
"Yesterday they beat me with electric cables while my hands were
cuffed behind my back and my feet were bound together. They
threatened to send me back to the militia (that) captured me, who
would kill me."
Others died from torture-inflicted injuries. Deep bruises and open
wounds confirmed it.
Despite AI's requests for months, NTC authorities "failed to conduct
effective investigations into cases of torture and suspicious deaths
in custody."
Moreover, the "police and judiciary remain dysfunctional across the
country." AI's Donatella Rovera said there's been "a complete
failure on the part of those in power to take concrete steps to end
torture and other ill-treatment of detainees and to hold those
accountable responsible for such crimes."
On January 26, a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) press release
headlined, "Libya: Detainees Tortured and Denied Medical Care,"
saying:
MSF confirmed torture and abuse against Misrata detainees. They're
also denied "urgent medical care." As a result, MSF suspended
operations.
Since August 2011, they treated Misrata's war-wounded detainees.
"Since then, (they observed) injuries caused by torture during
interrogation sessions." They treated 115 cases. They informed
Misrata authorities. "Since January, several of the patients
returned to interrogation centers were again tortured."
"Some officials (tried) to exploit and obstruct MSF's medical work,"
according to general director Christopher Stokes.
"Patients were brought to us in the middle of the interrogation for
medical care, in order to make them fit for further interrogation.
This is unacceptable. Our role is to provide medical care to war
casualties and sick detainees, not to repeatedly treat the same
patients between torture sessions."
Responsibility belongs to Libya's National Army Security Service. It
conducts interrogations. They prevented MSF from treating detainees
requiring "urgent and specialized" hospitalization care.
Instead they were interrogated again and tortured. On January 9, MSF
addressed the Misrata Military Council, the Misrata Security
Committee, the National Army Security Service, and the Misrata Local
Civil Council "demanding an immediate stop to any form of ill
treatment of detainees."
Nothing was done, said Stokes. Torture continues. In response, MSF
suspended operations, but continues providing mental health
services. It's also keep helping Black African workers, refugees,
and those internally displaced around Tripoli.
MSF's performed medical services in Libya since February 2011. Under
NATO/NTC-imposed conditions, it's no longer able to treat torture
and war-wounded victims by providing emergency care, surgeries, and
orthopedic follow-up treatment.
A Final Comment
Libya was developed and peaceful until NATO arrived on cruise
missiles, bombs, shells, other munitions, depleted and enriched
uranium, other terror weapons, fifth column infiltrators, media
liars, and other rogue tactics.
It's another imperial trophy to colonize, plunder and exploit.
State-sponsored terror continues. Human misery is incalculable.
Libyans wanting to live free are vulnerable. Keep their freedom
flame alive no matter how NATO monsters try to destroy it.
We're all Libyans now! Their struggle is ours! It better be because
our turn may be next!
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the
Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network
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